'Well done, specialist': Hegseth honours soldier who scolded his team at war memorial

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has awarded a military medal to the Army soldier who reprimanded him and his aides for failing to maintain silence and decorum at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a Veterans Day visit to Arlington National Cemetery. Hegseth welcomed members of the Army unit responsible for guarding the memorial to the Pentagon on Thursday and presented Specialist Thomas Iglesias with the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Pentagon said. The award was given "for the execution of his duties at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11, 2026". Hegseth also shared photographs of the ceremony on social media, including one showing him pinning the medal on Iglesias. "We love soldiers. We love standards. Well done, Specialist," he wrote.

Soldier reminded Hegseth's team to maintain silence

Iglesias drew attention after a video from Wednesday showed him reprimanding Hegseth, his wife Jennifer and several senior aides at the memorial following a Veterans Day ceremony attended by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The group had taken photographs on the empty steps in front of the tomb. Laughter was heard as they spoke among themselves, prompting Iglesias to call out: "All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times." Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell had defended the soldier's intervention after the video emerged, saying Iglesias had "correctly and respectfully reminded everyone to maintain decorum". The Joint Service Commendation Medal is considered one of the higher military awards and is not typically given to junior enlisted service members.

Hegseth faces renewed impeachment threat

The incident drew further attention to Hegseth, who survived an impeachment attempt in the House of Representatives earlier this week. The effort, led by Republican Representative Thomas Massie and backed by Democrats, was rejected in Tuesday's vote. However, Democrats, who are set to take control of both the House and Senate in January, have indicated that they could renew efforts to investigate Hegseth and pursue impeachment.

At a rare Pentagon news conference on Tuesday, Hegseth dismissed the impeachment push as a farce and argued that he had committed none of the high crimes required under the Constitution for his removal. "This is not patriotism," he said. "This is sabotage." Hegseth has faced criticism over his handling of the Iran war, US military strikes on suspected drug vessels in Latin American waters and the dismissal of senior military officers.

A memorial guarded around the clock

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is one of the most revered war memorials in the United States. It is the resting place of unidentified American service members, including soldiers who died in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. The site has been guarded around the clock since 1948 by soldiers from the Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard. Sentinels maintain a continuous watch over the tomb, regardless of weather conditions.